The United Kingdom and Vietnam have reached their strongest-ever bilateral agreement focusing on curbing illegal migration, marking a significant step in Britain’s efforts to stem the flow of undocumented arrivals.
The pact, announced following a meeting in London between UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Vietnam’s Communist Party chief Tô Lâm, aims to streamline the procedures for returning Vietnamese nationals who do not have the right to remain in the UK, while also deepening cooperation across political, economic and technological spheres.
According to UK government figures, Vietnamese nationals accounted for approximately 17 per cent of all migrants arriving in the UK by small boats during the six months ending June 2024. Overall, small-boat crossings made up roughly 43,000 of the 48,000 irregular arrivals during the year ending June 2025.
Starmer said the number of illegal arrivals from Vietnam had already been halved, though he added: “more can be done.” He argued that the agreement illustrated how international cooperation — “not shouting from the sidelines” — can deliver results for the UK and working people.
Vietnam, for its part, has for the first time signed a migration-deal of this nature, underscoring a shift in its approach to global migration governance. The joint declaration released after the leaders’ meeting noted that the partnership will extend to political trust-building, economic cooperation and science and technology, as well as education and energy sectors.
For the UK, the agreement represents a key plank in the ruling Labour government’s strategy to quell public concern over immigration. Starmer’s administration has seen its popularity wane amid mounting voter worry about immigration, especially given the buoyant performance of the populist Reform UK party.
Observers note that the deal complements other recent agreements, such as the one with France, under which the UK agreed to accept an equal number of legitimate asylum-seekers with British family connections in exchange for France taking back undocumented arrivals reaching the UK by small boats.
While details of how quickly and by what mechanisms returns will be processed were not fully disclosed, the UK government emphasised the deal will reduce “red tape” and speed up removals, indicating a more robust enforcement posture.
The agreement also signals Vietnam’s growing engagement in international migration and border‐management regimes. As global migration pressures mount, partnerships such as this could serve as models for other countries seeking to manage irregular flows through pooling diplomatic, legal and operational resources.
